Thomas a



Patent'ed lune.l3, I899. T. A. WALTON.

MASK.

(Application filed Mar. 30, 1899.)

(No Modeli) s w W ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. \VALTON, OF SORANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

MASK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,799, dated June 13, 1899.

Application filed March 30, 1899. Serial No. '71l,148. (No model) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. WALTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Masks, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to masks such as are used for amusement or theatrical purposes; and the object of the invention is to provide a mask simple in construction in which the mouth may open and shut with the jaw of the wearer for comic eifect.

To this end my invention consists of the construction and combination of the several parts herein claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a frontview of one of my masks with the mouth closed. Fig. 2 is a sideview of the same. Fig. 3 is a front View of one of my masks with the mouth open. Fig. at is a view taken in cross-section on the line as m of Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding and like parts throughout the views.

The mask is constructed from the usual materials, such as papier-mach, the two main portions 13 and 0 being hinged together by means of a pair of eyelets A A. An elastic strip D,having one of its ends fastened on an inner wall of B and the other on the inner wall of 0, attached at d d, serves to hold the jaw closed and has sufficient elasticity to allow the jaw to be pressed open. On the inner wall of the upper lip a shield-like piece is pasted fast, so as to lap within the lower lip, and this piece E may have embossed on it forms of teeth E or may have bits of cardboard representing teeth pasted thereon, or the forms of teeth and other appearances may be painted on the front side of said piece E.

The piece E should extend downward to the distance which the jaw is permitted to open, and the elastic strip D is made of woven ma terial which will stretch but a limited amount and then being sufficiently strong and solid to hold an ordinary strain. A strip of this description should be attached at each side of the mask, the one shown here being sufficient to illustrate. The upper piece 0 of the mask should be, provided ateach side of the mouth with downwardcurvin g lobes F F, and

these should curve downward sufficiently far so that the upper edge of the j aw-piece B will not pass below the lower edge of F when the elastic D is extended to its limit.

The operation of the mask is readily 6X plained. In its normal position the lip Z) shuts off a view of the semblance of teeth, &c., 011 E. The mask is worn on the face in the usual Way and drawn upward by the string G until the jaw rests on the bottom of the piece B, so that in the act of talking or laughing the j awpiece B responds to every movement of the jaw of the wearer, reproducing, as near as possible, the natural motion thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein-described mask, consisting of the upper face-piece O and the jaw-piece B hinged together at A A, a suitable elastic strip connecting them so as to cause the jaw of the mask when worn, to rest against and operate in unison with the jaw of the wearer for comic elfect substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS A. WALTON.

Witnesses:

D. G. MORAN, EDITH ScHwEIRs. 

